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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fairygodmother Foundation hopes to fulfill man’s wish


Doug Taft, who has bladder cancer, has asked the Fairygodmother Foundation for help in arranging dental care. 
 (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)
Correspondent

Doug Taft has one final wish that he would love to come true.

Taft, a 58 year-old Coeur d’Alene resident, who is losing his battle against bladder cancer, would like to have some extensive dental work done. He has no insurance, cannot afford dental care, and his poor oral health has impacted his overall health

“My teeth embarrass me,” Taft says. “I don’t feel comfortable laughing, smiling or even talking to others without covering my mouth.”

The Fairygodmother Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that facilitates wishes nationally for individuals and their loved ones facing terminal illness, received a letter from Taft.

“I feel I have a lot to share, and a lot to smile and laugh about, even in this trying time of illness,” Taft writes.

The Fairygodmother Foundation’s Wish Granting Program has granted nearly 600 wishes in 44 states since it was founded in 1998 in Chicago. The foundation has never turned an eligible wish recipient away, and grants wishes to adults who have a terminal illness with less than one year to live.

Since the foundation’s wish requests far exceed its resources, donations are crucial. To make end-of-life wishes come true for people like Taft, the foundation accepts tax-deductible donations and/or volunteers who can offer pro bono services, according to Jay Schryer, Fairygodmother Foundation media relations coordinator.

“What we provide, with the help of the caring people who support us, is something that medicine cannot provide – peace, closure and cherished memories,” Schryer says.

Although Taft has no immediate family, he moved to this area in 1994 because he has some relatives living in Spokane. Previously he has worked in building maintenance, as a housekeeper, and as a caretaker for the handicapped. He was laid off from his last three jobs and is currently unemployed.

The cancer was discovered in July, and his health has been deteriorating rapidly since.

“The doctor will not release me to return to work because of the cancer,” Taft says.

Taft has been through intensive chemotherapy and is still receiving treatments.

He admits that he didn’t take care of his teeth as a kid, and as a result his teeth have been “bad for a long time.”

“I never could afford to get my teeth fixed properly.” As a result, his diet now is restricted to primarily soft foods. He often gets dinner invitations but is unable to eat what is being served.

“I would like to be able to eat what other people eat instead of sitting around the table and watching other people eat,” Taft says.

Last December employees from the Cancer Center adopted him and gave him gift certificates for food and clothes.

“The Cancer Center has become my home away from home,” Taft says. “The people there are just wonderful.”

Although he does not know how long he has to live, Taft feels he has many reasons to be thankful.

“I go day to day and trust in the Lord,” Taft says. “I have a lot to be thankful for – good friends and family – what else more could I ask for? It has been a good life.”